First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter Queene, and Ladies. | Enter the Queen with her attendants | | R2 V.i.1 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| This way the King will come: this is the way | This way the King will come. This is the way | | R2 V.i.1 | |
| To Iulius Casars ill-erected Tower: | To Julius Caesar's ill-erected Tower, | ill-erected (adj.) built for wicked ends | R2 V.i.2 | |
| | Julius Caesar[pron: 'seezer] Roman politician and general, 1st-c BC | | |
| To whose flint Bosome, my condemned Lord | To whose flint bosom my condemned lord | flint (n.)flint-like, hard, merciless | R2 V.i.3 | |
| Is doom'd a Prisoner, by prowd Bullingbrooke. | Is doomed a prisoner by proud Bolingbroke. | | R2 V.i.4 | |
| Here let vs rest, if this rebellious Earth | Here let us rest, if this rebellious earth | | R2 V.i.5 | |
| Haue any resting for her true Kings Queene. | Have any resting for her true King's Queen. | | R2 V.i.6 | |
| Enter Richard, and Guard. | Enter Richard and guard | | R2 V.i.7.1 | |
| But soft, but see, or rather doe not see, | But soft, but see, or rather do not see, | soft (int.)[used as a command] not so fast, wait a moment, be quiet | R2 V.i.7 | |
| My faire Rose wither: yet looke vp; behold, | My fair rose wither. Yet look up, behold, | | R2 V.i.8 | |
| That you in pittie may dissolue to dew, | That you in pity may dissolve to dew | | R2 V.i.9 | |
| And wash him fresh againe with true-loue Teares. | And wash him fresh again with true-love tears. | | R2 V.i.10 | |
| Ah thou, the Modell where old Troy did stand, | Ah, thou the model where old Troy did stand! | model (n.)ground-plan, layout, outline | R2 V.i.11 | |
| | Troy (n.)ancient city of W Turkey, besieged for 10 years during the Trojan Wars; also called Ilium, Ilion | | |
| Thou Mappe of Honor, thou King Richards Tombe, | Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb, | map (n.)epitome, embodiment, incarnation | R2 V.i.12 | |
| And not King Richard: thou most beauteous Inne, | And not King Richard! Thou most beauteous inn, | | R2 V.i.13 | |
| Why should hard-fauor'd Griefe be lodg'd in thee, | Why should hard-favoured grief be lodged in thee | | R2 V.i.14 | |
| When Triumph is become an Ale-house Guest. | When triumph is become an alehouse guest? | | R2 V.i.15 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| Ioyne not with griefe, faire Woman, do not so, | Join not with grief, fair woman, do not so, | | R2 V.i.16 | |
| To make my end too sudden: learne good Soule, | To make my end too sudden. Learn, good soul, | | R2 V.i.17 | |
| To thinke our former State a happie Dreame, | To think our former state a happy dream, | state (n.)splendour, magnificence, stateliness, dignity | R2 V.i.18 | |
| From which awak'd, the truth of what we are, | From which awaked the truth of what we are | | R2 V.i.19 | |
| Shewes vs but this. I am sworne Brother (Sweet) | Shows us but this. I am sworn brother, sweet, | brother, sworncompanion-in-arms, devoted friend | R2 V.i.20 | |
| To grim Necessitie; and hee and I | To grim Necessity, and he and I | | R2 V.i.21 | |
| Will keepe a League till Death. High thee to France, | Will keep a league till death. Hie thee to France, | hie (v.)hasten, hurry, speed | R2 V.i.22 | |
| And Cloyster thee in some Religious House: | And cloister thee in some religious house. | | R2 V.i.23 | |
| Our holy liues must winne a new Worlds Crowne, | Our holy lives must win a new world's crown | | R2 V.i.24 | |
| Which our prophane houres here haue stricken downe. | Which our profane hours here have thrown down. | | R2 V.i.25 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| What, is my Richard both in shape and minde | What, is my Richard both in shape and mind | | R2 V.i.26 | |
| Transform'd, and weaken'd? Hath Bullingbrooke | Transformed and weakened? Hath Bolingbroke | | R2 V.i.27 | |
| Depos'd thine Intellect? hath he beene in thy Heart? | Deposed thine intellect? Hath he been in thy heart? | | R2 V.i.28 | |
| The Lyon dying, thrusteth forth his Paw, | The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw | | R2 V.i.29 | |
| And wounds the Earth, if nothing else, with rage | And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage | | R2 V.i.30 | |
| To be o're-powr'd: and wilt thou, Pupill-like, | To be o'erpowered. And wilt thou pupil-like | | R2 V.i.31 | |
| Take thy Correction mildly, kisse the Rodde, | Take thy correction, mildly kiss the rod, | | R2 V.i.32 | |
| And fawne on Rage with base Humilitie, | And fawn on rage with base humility, | base (adj.)dishonourable, low, unworthy | R2 V.i.33 | |
| Which art a Lyon, and a King of Beasts? | Which art a lion and a king of beasts? | | R2 V.i.34 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| A King of Beasts indeed: if aught but Beasts, | A king of beasts indeed! If aught but beasts | aught (n.)anything, [with negative word] nothing | R2 V.i.35 | |
| I had beene still a happy King of Men. | I had been still a happy king of men. | still (adv.)ever, now [as before] | R2 V.i.36 | |
| Good (sometime Queene) prepare thee hence for France: | Good sometimes queen, prepare thee hence for France. | sometimes (adj.)sometime, former, at one time | R2 V.i.37 | |
| Thinke I am dead, and that euen here thou tak'st, | Think I am dead, and that even here thou takest | | R2 V.i.38 | |
| As from my Death-bed, my last liuing leaue. | As from my deathbed thy last living leave. | | R2 V.i.39 | |
| In Winters tedious Nights sit by the fire | In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire | | R2 V.i.40 | |
| With good old folkes, and let them tell thee Tales | With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales | | R2 V.i.41 | |
| Of wofull Ages, long agoe betide: | Of woeful ages long ago betid; | betide (v.)happen, take place, befall | R2 V.i.42 | |
| And ere thou bid good-night, to quit their griefe, | And ere thou bid goodnight, to quite their griefs | quite (v.)[= requite] reward, repay, recompense | R2 V.i.43 | |
| Tell thou the lamentable fall of me, | Tell thou the lamentable tale of me, | | R2 V.i.44 | |
| And send the hearers weeping to their Beds: | And send the hearers weeping to their beds; | | R2 V.i.45 | |
| For why? the sencelesse Brands will sympathize | For why the senseless brands will sympathize | senseless (adj.)lacking human sensation, incapable of feeling | R2 V.i.46 | |
| | sympathize (v.)respond to, match, answer to | | |
| The heauie accent of thy mouing Tongue, | The heavy accent of thy moving tongue, | heavy (adj.)sorrowful, sad, gloomy | R2 V.i.47 | |
| And in compassion, weepe the fire out: | And in compassion weep the fire out; | | R2 V.i.48 | |
| And some will mourne in ashes, some coale-black, | And some will mourn in ashes, some coal-black, | | R2 V.i.49 | |
| For the deposing of a rightfulll King. | For the deposing of a rightful king. | | R2 V.i.50 | |
| Enter Northumberland. | Enter Northumberland | | R2 V.i.51 | |
| North. | NORTHUMBERLAND | | | |
| My Lord, the mind of Bullingbrooke is chang'd. | My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed. | | R2 V.i.51 | |
| You must to Pomfret, not vnto the Tower. | You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower. | Pomfret (n.)Pontefract, West Yorkshire; site of a castle in which Richard II was imprisoned; later, a Lancastrian stronghold | R2 V.i.52 | |
| And Madame, there is order ta'ne for you: | And, madam, there is order ta'en for you: | order, takemake arrangements | R2 V.i.53 | |
| With all swift speed, you must away to France. | With all swift speed you must away to France. | | R2 V.i.54 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| Northumberland, thou Ladder wherewithall | Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal | | R2 V.i.55 | |
| The mounting Bullingbrooke ascends my Throne, | The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne, | | R2 V.i.56 | |
| The time shall not be many houres of age, | The time shall not be many hours of age | | R2 V.i.57 | |
| More then it is, ere foule sinne, gathering head, | More than it is ere foul sin, gathering head, | | R2 V.i.58 | |
| Shall breake into corruption: thou shalt thinke, | Shalt break into corruption. Thou shalt think, | | R2 V.i.59 | |
| Though he diuide the Realme, and giue thee halfe, | Though he divide the realm and give thee half, | | R2 V.i.60 | |
| It is too little, helping him to all: | It is too little, helping him to all. | | R2 V.i.61 | |
| He shall thinke, that thou which know'st the way | He shall think that thou, which knowest the way | | R2 V.i.62 | |
| To plant vnrightfull Kings, wilt know againe, | To plant unrightful kings, wilt know again, | | R2 V.i.63 | |
| Being ne're so little vrg'd another way, | Being ne'er so little urged another way, | | R2 V.i.64 | |
| To pluck him headlong from the vsurped Throne. | To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne. | | R2 V.i.65 | |
| The Loue of wicked friends conuerts to Feare; | The love of wicked men converts to fear, | | R2 V.i.66 | |
| That Feare, to Hate; and Hate turnes one, or both, | That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both | | R2 V.i.67 | |
| To worthie Danger, and deserued Death. | To worthy danger and deserved death. | worthy (adj.)deserved, justified, warranted | R2 V.i.68 | |
| North. | NORTHUMBERLAND | | | |
| My guilt be on my Head, and there an end: | My guilt be on my head, and there an end. | | R2 V.i.69 | |
| Take leaue, and part, for you must part forthwith. | Take leave and part, for you must part forthwith. | part (v.)depart [from], leave, quit | R2 V.i.70 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| Doubly diuorc'd? (bad men) ye violate | Doubly divorced! Bad men, you violate | | R2 V.i.71 | |
| A two-fold Marriage; 'twixt my Crowne, and me, | A twofold marriage – 'twixt my crown and me, | | R2 V.i.72 | |
| And then betwixt me, and my marryed Wife. | And then betwixt me and my married wife. | | R2 V.i.73 | |
| (To Queen Isabel) | | R2 V.i.74 | |
| Let me vn-kisse the Oath 'twixt thee, and me; | Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me; | | R2 V.i.74 | |
| And yet not so, for with a Kisse 'twas made. | And yet not so; for with a kiss 'twas made. | | R2 V.i.75 | |
| Part vs, Northumberland: I, towards the North, | – Part us, Northumberland: I towards the north, | | R2 V.i.76 | |
| Where shiuering Cold and Sicknesse pines the Clyme: | Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime; | pine (v.)afflict, wear out, cause to waste away | R2 V.i.77 | |
| | clime (n.)land, region, realm | | |
| My Queene to France: from whence, set forth in pompe, | My wife to France, from whence set forth in pomp | | R2 V.i.78 | |
| She came adorned hither like sweet May; | She came adorned hither like sweet May, | | R2 V.i.79 | |
| Sent back like Hollowmas, or short'st of day. | Sent back like Hallowmas or shortest of day. | Hallowmas (n.)in Christian tradition, All Saints' Day, 1 November | R2 V.i.80 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| And must we be diuided? must we part? | And must we be divided? Must we part? | | R2 V.i.81 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| I, hand from hand (my Loue) and heart frõ heart. | Ay, hand from hand, my love, and heart from heart. | | R2 V.i.82 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| (To Northumberland) | | R2 V.i.83 | |
| Banish vs both, and send the King with me. | Banish us both, and send the King with me. | | R2 V.i.83 | |
| North. | NORTHUMBERLAND | | | |
| That were some Loue, but little Pollicy. | That were some love, but little policy. | policy (n.)statecraft, statesmanship, diplomacy | R2 V.i.84 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| Then whither he goes, thither let me goe. | Then whither he goes, thither let me go. | | R2 V.i.85 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| So two together weeping, make one Woe. | So two together weeping make one woe. | | R2 V.i.86 | |
| Weepe thou for me in France; I, for thee heere: | Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here. | | R2 V.i.87 | |
| Better farre off, then neere, be ne're the neere. | Better far off than, near, be ne'er the nea'er. | | R2 V.i.88 | |
| Goe, count thy Way with Sighes; I, mine with Groanes. | Go count thy way with sighs, I mine with groans. | | R2 V.i.89 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| So longest Way shall haue the longest Moanes. | So longest way shall have the longest moans. | | R2 V.i.90 | |
| Rich. | RICHARD | | | |
| Twice for one step Ile groane, ye Way being short, | Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short, | | R2 V.i.91 | |
| And peece the Way out with a heauie heart. | And piece the way out with a heavy heart. | piece out (v.)prolong, extend, drag out | R2 V.i.92 | |
| | heavy (adj.)sorrowful, sad, gloomy | | |
| Come, come, in wooing Sorrow let's be briefe, | Come, come – in wooing sorrow let's be brief, | | R2 V.i.93 | |
| Since wedding it, there is such length in Griefe: | Since wedding it, there is such length in grief. | | R2 V.i.94 | |
| One Kisse shall stop our mouthes, and dumbely part; | One kiss shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part. | | R2 V.i.95 | |
| Thus giue I mine, and thus take I thy heart. | Thus give I mine, and thus take I thy heart. | | R2 V.i.96 | |
| They kiss | | R2 V.i.97 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ISABEL | | | |
| Giue me mine owne againe: 'twere no good part, | Give me mine own again. 'Twere no good part | | R2 V.i.97 | |
| To take on me to keepe, and kill thy heart. | To take on me to keep and kill thy heart. | | R2 V.i.98 | |
| They kiss | | R2 V.i.99 | |
| So, now I haue mine owne againe, be gone, | So, now I have mine own again, be gone, | | R2 V.i.99 | |
| That I may striue to kill it with a groane. | That I may strive to kill it with a groan. | | R2 V.i.100 | |
| RICHARD | | | |
| We make Woe wanton with this fond delay: | We make woe wanton with this fond delay. | fond (adj.)foolish, stupid, mad | R2 V.i.101 | |
| | fond (adj.)tender, loving, affectionate | | |
| | wanton (adj.)unrestrained, undisciplined, boisterous, uncontrolled | | |
| Once more adieu; the rest, let Sorrow say. | Once more, adieu. The rest let sorrow say. | | R2 V.i.102 | |
| Exeunt. | Exeunt | | R2 V.i.102 | |